After going to the San Mateo show both Saturday afternoon and most of today (Sunday), here are some of my observations and comments about the show.
Yes, the show was a lot smaller than even the one here 6 months ago.
No Mike of Mesa Design (the magnetic featherboards) doing his Everything You SHOULD NOT DO When Ripping On A Table Saw high wire, daredevil act. (People in the "audience" who have never experienced or never saw a kickback, nor even heard the word "kickback" looking on wondering what MIke is selling and seeming a bit confused and bored while the "rest of us" are running for cover or finding a big dude to hide behind.)
No Wood Turners Supply or the Razer pyrography and carver guy.
No JoinTech booth but I did see an Incra.
I didn't see Leigh with their DT jigs and FMT jig - but did talk with a guy on the way out who bought a 24" Leigh DT Jig.
Didn't see any books, videos and DVD booths,
Ridgid was there but no Delta Dewalt Porter Cable General etc.
No Rockler or WoodCraft booth and no booth for The Saw Dust Shop or CB Tools (local tools and supplies outfits)
Festool was there with a small corner booth, with all their stuff - but no demos and damn few samples. I talked to two guys attending the show about the DOMINO, did a quick tour of the DOMINO with them at the Festool booth, gave them the url to the DOMINO stuff on my WWing site and wandered on. Ran into both of them later. Both had bought the DOMINO full package. Stopped by the both later and helped a guy who'd brought his wife get their Plunge Saw (TS55?) after I asked the Festool guy to turn on the Dust Extractor to demonstrate how quiet it is and pointed out the variable vac force feature. After she listened to the speal about the dust extractor - quiet, variable suction, wet/dry, double filtering and so on - she noted it was a LOT quieter than her vacuum cleaner, and had a LOT more suction. When she saw the accessories for "vacuum cleaner" mode she was sold - AND - if he got the saw (and guide) it was on the condition that she get to use the "dust extractor". THAT put a smile on his face. I left my silver bullet, mounted up and rode off with with a parting Hi Ho Silver! - AWAY!
Annie was doing her Jool Tool demo, and as usual guys were looking at her and not at what she was sharpening - or what she was saying. She's a pretty lady and it's understandable that I initially thought she was one of those pretty ladies at the car shows who stand around and just look attractive. Passed up her demo at two different shows before actually stopping to pay attention to what she was saying and what she was doing. Having gotten into turning, and not having a fast easy way to sharpen curved edges and some of the "unusual" grinds common to bowl gouges and spindle gouges, I wanted a Jool Tool. She was pretty busy so I talked with her kids 'til things quieted down and she had some time to make out my order. Today she had me work on an Ellsworth type grind bow gouge and show that this thing does a great job AND is easy as hell to use. I think I persuaded at least two guys to get a Jool Tool - AND picked up a few sharp- ening tips from Annie. (she really should wear a MuMu and wear curlers in her hair so guys will listen to what she's saying, and look at what she's doing.
Marc Sommerfeld did almost continuous Making Kitchen Cabinets demo, sometimes to just two people. The guy's a demonstrator work horse and has somehow kept his enthusiasm for cabinet building.
The inventor of the Micro-Fence System was there and pretty discouraged with the turn out and his sales. I bought something for my "system" and happened to have a hundred dollar bill on me. The total came to $102 and change so it perked him up just a little bit. He noted as he wrote the receipt that this was his EIGHTH sale - of the entire 3 day show. He's decided to give up on the show and go back to making furniture - the show being about 50% of his Micro-Fence business. He'll keep his web and mail order Micro-Fence business up, but not spend time and energy sitting alone in a booth at a woodworking show. That's a real pity because being able to do a Hands On with the Micro-Fence really makes you appreciate this precision tool system.
The Lee Valley / Veritas booth was big and well stocked with plenty of knowledgeable people to help you - but nothing you could purchase and take with you. Now I get to wait for their pair of little Squirrel-Tail Plam Planes (they're so CUTE!) and their cam clamp bench hold down thing. Played with a couple of their Low Angle planes and there's something to all the hype. Leave if to Veritas to through away all the "rules" and actually improve on some of the old Tried and True designs (witness their shoulder planes - subtle changes - but significant only when you've used one - AFTER using a Tried & True version (I had a Clifton before getting the Veritas "medium" shoulder plane. The Clifton now rests queitly and seldom used in the tool cabinet)
And I must admit I spent some time drooling at the Lie Nielsen booth - and making some see through curlies off a gnarly piece of highly figured maple. While I appreciate the look, quality and quality of cut Lie Nielsen is famous for, Veritas equivalents do just as good a job - for my money - and for an appreciably less amount of my money. Your mileage (and bank account) may vary.
I learned that WoodLine and the outfit that drills holes in files have bought the show and the hand over has gone - well let's just say "less than smoothly" - witness the Woodworkingshow site being down, glitch with the e-mail list and late show reminder Post Cards (mine came two or three days before the show). But the show has been on the decline for the last two years at least and the new owners have a daunting task ahead of them - sort of like trying to turn an oil tanker around. I'm going to give them a couple more shows and see what happens. I'd hate to lose the Twice A Year Woodworking Show - with new things to see and try, stuff to lust after - and the opportunity to talk woodworking with other woodworkers I'm not apt to encounter except at The Show.
SO - if it isn't a REALLY BIG hassle for you - give 'em another chance or two before tossing in the towel. Internet shopping is often cheaper and easier
- for sure - but Hands On and getting to ask questions, exchange ideas with vendors and show attendees can't be done from a keyboard. Face To Face is what made this country's business go. Somehow htting "send" just ain't the same as a handshake and a smile - from both parties in the transaction.
charlie b